Virginia is a stunning location for your wedding, with opulent resorts with a Southern flair, remote settings in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and more than 300 wineries. You must have your marriage license to get married, whether you want a lavish wedding or a secret elopement. Although it may seem alluring, it's important for couples to realize that Virginia has unique laws regarding weddings within the state and what they can do if they want an online marriage in Virginia.
Before the global pandemic, laws controlling the legality of weddings and celebrants were fairly strict. The officiant and the couple had to be present for the union to be considered legal. They also had to go visit the county clerk's office to obtain a marriage license. However, this caused a serious issue as the virus spread, social isolation set in, and several county clerk offices were closed.
Then, In 2019, the Utah County marriage license office and Utah County information technology departments started a year-long effort to create a fully digital end-to-end marriage license issuance and recording process, as part of a campaign promise to "bring the Clerk/office Auditor's into the 21st century." Couples now have the option to apply for a marriage license, do the ceremony, and have the officiant submit the necessary paperwork for the marriage certificate all online as of January 2020. This Utah online marriage procedure did away with the requirement that a couple must physically visit the office to get and return their marriage license.
The best part? Anyone can get legally married online through Utah's process, since you don't have to be a resident! You will receive a legal US Marriage Certificate since marriages performed legally in one state are recognized across the country, as long as they do not violate federal or state laws.
Your application for a marriage licence may be rejected if you don't have the required documentation and information. What you'll need is as follows:
Marriage licenses can only be issued to single individuals. If you have been married before or are a widower, Virginia does not require you to bring a divorce decree or death certificate to your appointment; nevertheless, you will need to swear in front of the government official assessing your application that you are no longer married.
A marriage license will cost you about $30. Although the prices shouldn't differ from county to county, the accepted forms of payment could. For instance, Fairfax County only accepts cash for in-person applications.
However, be mindful that this cost does not accommodate the fuel spent on commuting, the ceremony, and the officiation.
In Virginia, the ability to obtain a marriage license online varies county by county. None of the Counties allow you to get a Marriage License completely online, but some allow you to speed up the process online. For example, Fairfax County has made it possible to complete an Online Marriage License Pre-Application, but you'll still have to visit the courthouse to obtain your license.
Here are the requirements involved in getting a Marriage License in Fairfax:
To speed up the process, applicants may complete the Online Marriage License Pre-Application. After submitting the application, the applicants have sixty days to visit the courthouse to obtain their license. Fairfax County also does not provide "Justice of the Peace" services. Civil marriage celebrants are available by appointment at the location of your choosing.
Other Counties in Virginia may have different requirements. We recommend that you check the county near you to see their specific requirements.
Keep in mind that this does not include the process for finding an officiant, organizing, and having a wedding ceremony, which still has to be completed to be legally married. For your wedding ceremony, you will also be required to be within Virginia–meaning you, your officiant, and your witnesses will all be required to be located within Virginia. Your other guests may still join online.
If you want to skip all the hassle and steps, Courtly has optimized the whole procedure for you, providing you with a convenient way out. Using Courtly, couples may carry out the entire procedure remotely from any place. A legitimate US marriage certificate may be acquired quickly, easily, and with minimal documentation.
If you want your wedding to be certified and/or recognized in a nation other than the United States, you might need to get an Apostille certification. An apostille guarantees that your marriage license is valid, verifiably legitimate, and recognized in all nations that have ratified The Hague Apostille Convention of 1961. Although distant appearance ceremonies conducted by a Courtly officiant are permitted by U.S. law, foreign countries or immigration authorities' approval of them may not always be recognized as valid, especially if your companion is a foreign national.
Using Courtly, couples may do the entire process online from any place. A legitimate U.S. marriage certificate may be acquired quickly, easily, and in most cases, in less than 48 hours, without any documentation.
1. Complete the sign-up procedure by creating an account.
It's as simple as ABC to register with Courtly to be married online! To join up, simply click the "Get Married" icon in the top right corner and follow the on-screen instructions. As soon as you create your account, you should be able to access it.
2. Upload your pictures and private data.
A government-issued I.D. with the applicant's name and birthday clearly displayed is required. In order to help you obtain your marriage license, our concierge will use our secure I.D. verification procedure. Our system accepts several types of I.D.s from more than 200 nations!
We will check for any ambiguities and work with the authorities to make sure everything is ready for your big day.
3. Decide on the ceremony's format, setting, and officiant.
It's time to act! Choose a venue and ceremony style that suits you. Depending on the time and day you select, we'll match you with one of Courtly's legally qualified US officiants.
4. After paying for your wedding package, you will get an email confirmation.
Make the payment and watch for Courtly's email of confirmation. When this is finished, the wedding bells should start to sound!
5. Join your family and friends online to celebrate your marriage!
Finally, get hitched online while lounging in your house (or any other place with a strong internet connection!). It should take roughly 15 minutes to complete the ceremony.
A digital copy of your U.S. marriage certificate will be sent to you immediately after your online wedding, and a printed copy will be sent to you within a few business days. Soon after the wedding, you may download your digital marriage license.
So, getting married online in Virginia is a fast and uncomplicated process. With just a few steps, you'll be able to complete the process with ease. All you need is a valid email address, identification, and your payment method. For more information about Courtly's effort in making Virginia online marriage possible, please visit our website.
Getting married is complicated. Courtly simplifies the process and provides everything necessary to get married online, including providing a licensed officiant who can perform a remote ceremony.
get marriedGetting married is complicated. Courtly simplifies the process and provides everything necessary to get married online.
get married
